Adam Bilodeau is a top 10 student at Lewiston High School. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal) Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — It was the summer before his senior year when Lewiston senior Adam Bilodeau realized that running could take him places.

“My goal was to get into a college that I could also run for,” he said.

Even better, he found one willing to offer a sizable scholarship. Now, Lewiston’s top cross country runner is looking forward to competing this fall for Saint Michael’s College in Vermont, a Division II school.

Bilodeau is the No. 8 student in his class and a soon-to-be graduate of Lewiston Regional Technical Center’s business academy. He hopes to build on what he’s learned at the post-secondary level and envisions himself one day working for a major corporation, ideally in marketing.

Unlike other specialties in the business world, marketing would enable him to be more creative and active in his work, he said. But because Saint Michael’s doesn’t have a major specific to the field, he plans to study business administration.

“I know I love it by when I hear the word ‘business,’ I get happier than if I were to hear like ‘medical science’ or ‘government,'” he said. “Business is just what I like the most, it’s the most interesting to me.”

Lewiston cross country coach Rebecca Duggan said Bilodeau is known on the team for his dedication to training, his positive attitude and leadership. But he’s also a lot of fun to be around, she said.

Teammates named him the “veggie-off champion” during the end of season awards last fall in recognition of his commitment to acting out the part of various fruits and vegetables during one of the team’s silly games.

“He was always invested in all parts of the team, whether it was the competition piece, the team-building piece, (or) the having fun piece,” Duggan said. “That’s just really refreshing.”

Duggan recalled a time in the fall when coaches considered moving a workout because so many runners were absent or running late. All but Bilodeau were thrilled at the prospect of delaying the difficult practice, she said.

“Adam was the only one who chimed in and said, ‘No, I want to do a workout, I want to get better. Can we stick with the plan?'” she said. “That is definitely, in all of my coaching years, the first time anybody (said), ‘Don’t cancel a workout.'”

Bilodeau didn’t start out as Lewiston’s top runner. He worked his way up with his consistent dedication to training, eventually running a personal best 5-kilometer cross country time of 16:54. Last fall, he placed 17th overall in the state cross country championships and finished his high school cross country career at the New England championships.

Now, he and other track athletes across the state are once again preparing for championship season.

But as serious as he is about training, Duggan said he still makes time to stop and pet every dog he sees.

Late this summer, Bilodeau and his new team will spend a week at a bed and breakfast. There, he’ll get to know his teammates while running, hiking, cooking, camping and swimming in the Vermont woods.

Before visiting Saint Michael’s College, Bilodeau had never been to Vermont. He feels the college is far from home. But he’s excited for what’s to come.

This is the fifth article in a series featuring high school seniors as graduation season nears. In the series, the Sun Journal will profile a randomly chosen top 10 student or the equivalent from 16 high schools in central and western Maine.